Candidates: meet your top 5 questioners

CITY/RD/SD47 ELECTION 2022 • OCTOBER 15

We’ve asked a diverse team to help qL ask questions of the candidates in the September and October issues of the magazine.

Here is a quick introduction to the five groups:

Chamber of Commerce

The Powell River Chamber of Commerce represents the business community for the City of Powell River and the qathet region. Our members include retail, resource-sector, trades, hospitality, and more.

Currently, many members of the Chamber are facing serious challenges in an unpredictable economic climate. They include housing, employee attraction and retention, the escalating cost of materials and property taxes. However, many members are also embracing unique opportunities, such as the growth in population, tourism, home-based and online businesses.

In this election, we hope to hear ideas from candidates for the City, qRD and SD47 that show they understand how essential local business is to this entire region. We look forward to hearing how they will support us in overcoming our challenges, and fostering our opportunities.

Volunteer Powell River / Youth CAT

Volunteer Powell River’s Youth Communication Act Team (CAT) is an open group of young people aged 15-29 in the qathet region who seek to make a difference in our community by hosting events and volunteering. This program is part of Canada Service Corps and we are going into our fourth year running.

Issues that we are passionate about and would like to see addressed by our local representatives are: public transportation; local harm reduction strategies; connection with rural and remote parts of our region; diversity in leadership; care for our forests and water systems; waste management and community planning; work on reconciliation.

Council of Canadians

Council of Canadians(CoC) is a national non-partisan citizens’ organization working for social, economic, and environmental justice. The Powell River chapter provides and supports sustainability in issues of water, housing, health, fisheries and privatization of public services. CoC is committed to indigenous rights and an inclusive democracy.

It is time to reclaim democracy and insist on a legitimate voice in decision-making. We need collaborative leadership with the skill and disposition to gather our collective talent and build a resilient, and progressive community. A change in governance will positively influence the outcome of all other issues we face.

Senior Citizens Association

The Powell River Seniors Citizens Association Branch 49 supports the lives of older people in our community. Through our centre at Manson and Cranberry, volunteers offer free and low-cost programming to seniors including dinners, tai chi, dance, cards and board games, and much more. Our volunteers also offer a frozen meals program.

Trust is a significant issue for seniors; will the new leadership at the City and Regional District have the best interests of citizens in mind?

Because the mill is no longer operating, they’re concerned that property taxes will have to be raised significantly. So, seniors are hoping the City and Regional District will prioritize attracting new businesses to the region, which may take up some of the tax burden and provide jobs.

Building permits are currently slow to be issued; that must change to be seen as business-friendly.

And seniors would like to have a say in whether the City changes its name, and what it changes to.

qathet Climate Alliance

qCA, formerly Climate Action Powell River, strives to keep the community informed on the subject of climate change and to foster action aimed at reducing fossil fuel emissions and the local carbon footprint.

Heading in to this election, qCA hopes the City and Regional District will develop specific plans to reduce greater community and regional emissions; conduct activities to educate the public in sustainability practices; and train and support local staff to deliver programs which foster community sustainability and reduce the overall carbon footprint of the city and region.

Note: it is the opinion of qCA that neither of these levels of government are doing nearly enough to help the public understand the climate risk and make more informed decisions and choices.

At School District 47, qRD hopes a new board will implement a ‘Teach the Future’ program where climate change is taught in more depth and in more subjects so that our children and youth will be better prepared to function in a warmer world, and immediately begin to transition the school bus fleet to electric.